My S3 stolen last night...beware!!!!

[Bradders99]

hi,
Some thieving low life piece of **** broke into our house and stole my S3 last night, whilst we were out! Car still not recovered but since it happened I have heard from police, insurers and bloke who came out to repair our house doors that their has been an epidemic of Audi's stolen in the Nottingham and Derby areas this week so please lock yours up tight, as you don't want to go through what I have just had to for last 24hrs!

 

[Kuku]

Jeez sorry to hear this and read this. Glad you and family are all ok - and a good reminder to all to check cars are locked at night and houses as secure as can be

 

[RAF_S7]

Sorry to hear this

 

[Bradders99]

Thanks!
Yes always though it would never happen to me!
As you say at the end of day the important thing was we and kids were out so no real harm done, and I am so glad I took out the Audi Gap insurance!
My advice is 'you never think you need it until you do' so make sure you don't regret not taking it!

 

[Mark_86]

Sorry to hear this mate. Hope it's found safe and sound.


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[Bradders99]

PS it was stolen just after 8pm! So not even late or through the night!

 

[CarloS3]

Sorry to hear that mate...Hope they don't recover it so it's declared a total loss in your favour... You don't want a recovered & repaired car.

 

[Gazwould]

The S3 is soooooo HOT .

 

[davc]

Sorry to hear that Bradders, what a bunch of low lifes. I hope they die a horrible death, hopefully at the hands of another homeowner who beats 7 shades of you know what out of them.

I take my keys when we go out if my car is left and the spare is never kept on the premises.

Out of interest did they kick your door in or smash the locks to gain entry?

There has been a spree in my area recently and the scumbags have been launching concrete slabs through patio doors in the middle of the night.

 

[Col Simpson]

Sorry to hear that, I hope they catch the scumbags. There seems to be a lot of cars getting stolen up my way in Aberdeen at the moment. The majority getting caught are just kids as well, breaking into houses to get the keys then driving off in your pride and joy goading the cops to get chased. And what happens when they get caught,,,,,,NOTHING!!! A small fine and away out again that night to steal more.

 

[-Ju-]

Arghhhhh not another one.
I' ve been contemplating moving to the 8V again recently and this is what puts me off.
Buying a car is a big decision that we have to work hard for and we cherish them when we do.
Why does some low life pond scum think he has the right to take it, they don't deserve the life they have been blessed with.
Hope you and your family can start the new year in a positive frame of mind and stick 2 fingers up to these lowlife scumbags

 

[BarryG79]

Gutted for you mate, not a good start to the year! Hopefully they catch them but its been said already it won't stop them doing it again. Even those that get jailed come back out and start doing it again, should chop of a hand and they might think twice!
Good thing is that you weren't home, hopefully this won't put you off having the type of car you want in the future. All the best.


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[Matt Titanium]

I take my keys when we go out if my car is left and the spare is never kept on the premises.

I had an attempted break in last year 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Knocked on the front door, no reply and tried breaking in the back. Our son was in the house on his own and didn't answer the door but heard them trying to force the kitchen window, disturbed them and they ran off. Three 18-20 yr olds. Police and SOCO were brilliant but didn't catch them.

S3 was parked in full view on the drive.

I now park my car out of sight of passers by, have installed HD CCTV that will recognize faces and have put up extra security lights. Hopefully this will at least put off opportunist future attempts.

However - I leave my keys so they can't be seen from outside but could easily be found if anyone did break in with the intention of taking the car. It's only a piece of metal, is fully insured and can easily be replaced. I'd much rather they take the car than ransack the house looking for keys, or worse threaten either my wife or kids to obtain them. No tracker or tracker stickers, I'd rather not see the car again, but if it was to be found, I wouldn't want the interior ripped apart by a windy thief trying to find something that's not there, panicking and dumping the car instead of finishing the job.

 

[xtof06]

So sorry for you @Bradders99.
It's a blue one? Perhaprs more easyer to find it!!

 

[Bradders99]

Sorry to hear that Bradders, what a bunch of low lifes. I hope they die a horrible death, hopefully at the hands of another homeowner who beats 7 shades of you know what out of them.

I take my keys when we go out if my car is left and the spare is never kept on the premises.

Out of interest did they kick your door in or smash the locks to gain entry?

There has been a spree in my area recently and the scumbags have been launching concrete slabs through patio doors in the middle of the night.

Hi Davc,
Yes they smashed through our conservatory and then patio doors with a patio slab and took the keys! Not sure that not having the keys away from premises helps / hinders as they did no other damage other then grab the Mrs jewellery and the copper said that if they hadn't of found the keys so quick, they probably would have turned the house upside down and stole/damaged a lot more trying to find them!
Tough call,,!!!!

 

[JunkStory]

good heavens.. is this sort of crime really that regular in Europe? 25 years of living in Canada, we never had a break in, either to our cars or to our home. I've had my car vandalized once at a school parking lot, and occasionally surveillance camera would catch someone trying to open our door to see if it was unlocked but that's about it.

 

[Bradders99]

So sorry for you @Bradders99.
It's a blue one? Perhaprs more easyer to find it!!

Thanks mate! Yes it is seprang blue saloon s3, but if they didn't catch them straight away (neighbour saw them driving off my drive and phoned please straight away) I doubt it was just lads out for a spin as they would have found it by now, so I suspect it was stolen to order!

 

[Bradders99]

good heavens.. is this sort of crime really that regular in Europe? 25 years of living in Canada, we never had a break in, either to our cars or to our home. I've had my car vandalized once at a school parking lot, and occasionally surveillance camera would catch someone trying to open our door to see if it was unlocked but that's about it.

Unfortunately, it seems that way!!!!

 

[Bradders99]

I had an attempted break in last year 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Knocked on the front door, no reply and tried breaking in the back. Our son was in the house on his own and didn't answer the door but heard them trying to force the kitchen window, disturbed them and they ran off. Three 18-20 yr olds. Police and SOCO were brilliant but didn't catch them.

S3 was parked in full view on the drive.

I now park my car out of sight of passers by, have installed HD CCTV that will recognize faces and have put up extra security lights. Hopefully this will at least put off opportunist future attempts.

However - I leave my keys so they can't be seen from outside but could easily be found if anyone did break in with the intention of taking the car. It's only a piece of metal, is fully insured and can easily be replaced. I'd much rather they take the car than ransack the house looking for keys, or worse threaten either my wife or kids to obtain them. No tracker or tracker stickers, I'd rather not see the car again, but if it was to be found, I wouldn't want the interior ripped apart by a windy thief trying to find something that's not there, panicking and dumping the car instead of finishing the job.

Thank god they he disturbed them, scary! I agre with you. I am going to do the same and improve lighting and put up HD CCTV, I don't want to give up having a nice car just because of these idiots!

 

[Bradders99]

Arghhhhh not another one.
I' ve been contemplating moving to the 8V again recently and this is what puts me off.
Buying a car is a big decision that we have to work hard for and we cherish them when we do.
Why does some low life pond scum think he has the right to take it, they don't deserve the life they have been blessed with.
Hope you and your family can start the new year in a positive frame of mind and stick 2 fingers up to these lowlife scumbags

Thanks Ju, sorry this was meant as a warning and not to put anyone off owning this fantastic car! Totally agree with your comments, it took me years to be able to afford it, then it's gone in seconds!

 

[Craig Cull]

Sorry to hear this mate, first thing i had installed was a cat 5 tracker with remote immobiliser when i got mine. Doesnt stop the scumbags trying or taking it, but hopefully means they will die in a ball of flames during a high speed persuit. Sounds awful but imo thats what they deserve for stealing from people who work hard for what they have.
Ghost immobiliser is also a good thing to have in the future.
The S3 is the most stolen car in the uk at present.

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[Jassyo06]

Hi mate so sorry to hear this,l have had 2 attempts at the scum stealing my cars in the last 30 months, both times we where all in the home and on the 2 occasions we disturbed them in the house, my car keys go everywhere with me now,if they had of stolen my car l wouldn't want it back

 

[-Ju-]

Thanks Ju, sorry this was meant as a warning and not to put anyone off owning this fantastic car! Totally agree with your comments, it took me years to be able to afford it, then it's gone in seconds!

I will get one when I'm ready so no you havent put me off.
I was looking at one a good few months ago at my local dealer. It was lovely and fully spec'd with supersport seats etc. There was a traffic cop there at the time and let's just say he did put me off.
When I bought my 8P S3 I had to have a tracker fitted, as that time it was the same, that requirement has now dropped off.
Luckily I still love my current S3 so I still feel like I'm "living the dream" so to speak
One way or another you'll be back in your dream car soon enough

 

[J7USS]

Having been a victim of this crazy **** that goes off still today I wouldnt want the car back regardless, what I would love is to hear that the twats that took it lost it in a ditch, got trapped and burn to death slowly....couldnt give a **** how rotten that sounds but in my eyes thats what they deserve.

My main concern was my youngest at the time was 5 and he was petrified that they would return to take his mums car, it took him weeks to settle again during that time I had a foldable bollard, 3 cameras and extra locks put on our front and back door < and we didnt even suffer a break in either so cant imagine the lengths I would have gone to if the cun*s came into my house.

As for taking the keys with you or hiding them then that is a daft thing to do imo, dont let these tramps have to ransack your house, they want the car and they'll do nearly anything to get it, not saying hand them the keys but lets not play treasure hunt with them.

As for not buying a car that you want because of these ********* then your silly to yourself, dont let these ********* dictate what you can and cannot drive, you only live once and shouldnt be in fear either!!

 

[Bradders99]

I will get one when I'm ready so no you havent put me off.
I was looking at one a good few months ago at my local dealer. It was lovely and fully spec'd with supersport seats etc. There was a traffic cop there at the time and let's just say he did put me off.
When I bought my 8P S3 I had to have a tracker fitted, as that time it was the same, that requirement has now dropped off.
Luckily I still love my current S3 so I still feel like I'm "living the dream" so to speak
One way or another you'll be back in your dream car soon enough

Good! Glad your still enjoying your S3, I hope I will be back in one soon, although the Mrs may take a little bit more convincing yet as them breaking in the house and risk to our kids as unsettled her - not surprisingly!

 

[Bradders99]

Having been a victim of this crazy **** that goes off still today I wouldnt want the car back regardless, what I would love is to hear that the twats that took it lost it in a ditch, got trapped and burn to death slowly....couldnt give a **** how rotten that sounds but in my eyes thats what they deserve.

My main concern was my youngest at the time was 5 and he was petrified that they would return to take his mums car, it took him weeks to settle again during that time I had a foldable bollard, 3 cameras and extra locks put on our front and back door < and we didnt even suffer a break in either so cant imagine the lengths I would have gone to if the cun*s came into my house.

As for taking the keys with you or hiding them then that is a daft thing to do imo, dont let these tramps have to ransack your house, they want the car and they'll do nearly anything to get it, not saying hand them the keys but lets not play treasure hunt with them.

As for not buying a car that you want because of these ********* then your silly to yourself, dont let these ********* dictate what you can and cannot drive, you only live once and shouldnt be in fear either!!

I am finding it hard to argue you with any of your points raised!

 

[S32B]

Sorry to hear this mate and I hope they get what's coming! I don't know of many on here who don't have GAP cover.

It also just started a small argument with my wife!!! I showed her your OP and said "That's why you need to be careful" (she has a habit of coming upstairs and leaving the french doors unlocked/open and saying I'm going back outside after), she sighed and replied with "They will take any car not just S3's"....you can imagine my reaction

 

[SPIKE_]

Echo all the above comments....really gutting to hear this. It's such a common thing to hear nowadays unfortunately, and you must take your home security to as high a level as possible.

 

[paradigital]

Exactly why I have both GAP cover and CCTV pointed at the car. Never a good thing to read about.

Tempted to get a safe for the spare keys, and possibly some collapsible bollards, though 90% of the time to get my car out, they'd have to steal the wifes or next door's van first.

 

[Bradders99]

Sorry to hear this mate and I hope they get what's coming! I don't know of many on here who don't have GAP cover.

It also just started a small argument with my wife!!! I showed her your OP and said "That's why you need to be careful" (she has a habit of coming upstairs and leaving the french doors unlocked/open and saying I'm going back outside after), she sighed and replied with "They will take any car not just S3's"....you can imagine my reaction

Cheers paradigital! Sorry to have caused a mini domestic!

 

[TDI-line]

Sorry to hear this Bradders, hope you get a quick result.

 

[Bradders99]

Do any of you know if I have the return to invoice Gap insurance what exactly that means??? Do I get another car up to that invoice price, or the cash delta from the settlement of the PCP up to invoice to put towards a new one???? I know insurance company want to settle direct with Audi finance and not me, but never gone through this before so. It sure!

 

[S32B]

Do any of you know if I have the return to invoice Gap insurance what exactly that means??? Do I get another car up to that invoice price, or the cash delta from the settlement of the PCP up to invoice to put towards a new one???? I know insurance company want to settle direct with Audi finance and not me, but never gone through this before so. It sure!

Return to invoice is the exact price after you negotiated any discount. So example- if the car was £35k and you got £5k discount and paid £30k, your normal insurance pay out £28k and GAP will take you back up to £30k.

Combined Vehicle Replacement takes you back to a new car without the need to haggle on price again.

But before you accept any offer from your normal insure, the GAP people must be told first!

 

[Bradders99]

Return to invoice is the exact price after you negotiated any discount. So example- if the car was £35k and you got £5k discount and paid £30k, your normal insurance pay out £28k and GAP will take you back up to £30k.

Combined Vehicle Replacement takes you back to a new car without the need to haggle on price again.

But before you accept any offer from your normal insure, the GAP people must be told first!

Cheers S32B, so in your example, if the settlement on the car finance was £25k, then I would have to pay the £25k off to the finance company and I would have £5k left as a deposit towards another car (£3k left over from insurance and £2k from gap insurance)? If so, can I use that towards any car or does it have to be another Audi S3?

 

[S32B]

Not sure if they pay the finance direct or pay you. But I know with my GAP it doesn't have to be another S3 or even an Audi!

 

[Bradders99]

Not sure if they pay the finance direct or pay you. But I know with my GAP it doesn't have to be another S3 or even an Audi!

Ok, cheers mate!

 

[CarloS3]

But if you don't get another car like for like then how can VRI determine what the value of the "like for like" replacement is and therefore the payout if it's not an an S3 let alone an Audi? Could argue that you're going for an M3 instead haha.

Or do they work out the value of what a like for like replacement would be now as a first step, and then give you the money for you to do with as you like?

 

[DrEskimo]

But if you don't get another car like for like then how can VRI determine what the value of the "like for like" replacement is and therefore the payout if it's not an an S3 let alone an Audi? Could argue that you're going for an M3 instead haha.

Or do they work out the value of what a like for like replacement would be now as a first step, and then give you the money for you to do with as you like?

There's two types of GAP, back to invoice and replacement. Back to invoice just pays out the difference between what your insurer pays out and what you paid for it when you bought it. Replacement gives you the exact same vehicle or back to invoice depending on what's worth more.

For the OP with back to invoice, he will just get back to where he was before he took the finance out. Not sure if the insurance will pay back the finance owed, or whether you will get all the money and then need to settle any finance yourself. He may find that the FL S3 means he can't get as good as a discount as he originally did, therefore his deposit on a similar spec S3 might mean higher monthlies.

I got my S5 as one of the last B8.5 builds and got a rather healthy discount. That's why I went with replacement gap, so I could get the same S5 with the same spec, as I know I wouldn't get the same discount on the new B9 model.

 

[pburv]

Sorry to hear this @Bradders99
Hope it all gets sorted for you asap...

 

[CarloS3]

There's two types of GAP, back to invoice and replacement. Back to invoice just pays out the difference between what your insurer pays out and what you paid for it when you bought it. Replacement gives you the exact same vehicle or back to invoice depending on what's worth more.

For the OP with back to invoice, he will just get back to where he was before he took the finance out. Not sure if the insurance will pay back the finance owed, or whether you will get all the money and then need to settle any finance yourself. He may find that the FL S3 means he can't get as good as a discount as he originally did, therefore his deposit on a similar spec S3 might mean higher monthlies.

I got my S5 as one of the last B8.5 builds and got a rather healthy discount. That's why I went with replacement gap, so I could get the same S5 with the same spec, as I know I wouldn't get the same discount on the new B9 model.

Cheers but am already aware of that mate. Was just referring to the post above where it was said you don't have to replace the car with a like for like (model or marque) under VRI. Think I answered my own question anyhow.